Single lever transfer mechanism for linecasting machines



Dec. 18, 1962 p, H|LPMAN ETAL 3,068,999

. SINGLE LEVER TRANSFER MECHANISM FOR LINECASTING MACHINES Filed March 8, 1961 4 Sheets-Sheet l INVENTORS PAUL HILEMRN BY WILLIAM A. Mu. ANEseJR.

Dec. 18, 1962 P. HILPMAN ETAL SINGLE LEVER TRANSFER MECHANISM FOR LINECASTING MACHINES Filed March 8, 1961 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 INV'ENTORS; PnuL HILPM AN BY WILLIAM A. Mi nusss, J'R.

Dec. 18, 1962 P. HILPMAN ETAL SINGLE LEVER TRANSFER MECHANISM FOR LINECASTING MACHINES Filed March 8, 1961 4 Sheets-Sheet 3 m m m m I PAUL Hizemmv y WILLIAM H. MIL Mess, JR.

Dec. 18, 1962 P. HILPMAN ETAL 3,063,999

SINGLE LEVER TRANSFER MECHANISM FOR LINE-CASTING MACHINES Filed March 8, 1961 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 0 85' a o v 0 0 s0 n90 84 270 560 5 2' 7 INVENTORS a? 57 85 I Paul. HILPMAN y WILLMM H. MiLnn/e'se', JR.

NEY

United States Patent Ofifice 3,068,999 Patented Dec. 18, 1962 3,068,999 SINGLE LEVER TRANSFER MECHANISM FOR LINECASTING MACHINES Paul Hilpman, Garden City, and William A. Milanese, Jr.,

Huntington, N.Y., assignors to Mergenthaler Linotype Company, a corporation of New York Filed Mar. 8, 1961, Ser. No. 94,345 12 Claims. (Cl. 19936) This invention relates to typographical machines such as linecasting machines of the general organization represented in U.S. Letters Patent to O. Mergenthaler, No. 436,532, wherein circulating matrices are released from a magazine in the order in which they are to appear in print and then assembled in line with spacebands, the composed line transferred to the face of a mold, the mold filled with molten metal to form a type bar or slug and the matrices returned through a distributing mechanism to the magazines from which they started while the spacebands are returned to their own separate magazine or box. The machine functions are carried out in proper sequence and in timed relation to one another under the control of a plurality of cams mounted on a main cam shaft which makes one revolution for each machine cycle. At the completion of each cycle of operation all parts have reached their normal position ready for the next cycle.

' More particularly the present invention provides a simplified transfer mechanism to return the matrices and spacebands to their respective storage places upon completion of the casting operation.

Heretofore during line transfer, a cam controlled transfer lever operated to shift the matrices and spacebands from the first elevator into the intermediate transfer channel wherein the teeth of the matrices engaged teeth on the second elevator bar, while the spacebands being without teeth were supported on cooperating rails within the transfer channel. Once the second elevator had lifted the matrices out of the upper transfer channel, the continued cam controlled operation of the transfer lever moved the spacebands nearer to the spaceband box preparatory to their being engaged by the spaceband lever pawl, whereupon the transfer lever was returned to its normal position to await the next line to be transferred.

A second lever called the spaceband lever, carrying the spaceband pawl, operating in conjunction with the transfer lever, and motivated by the same cam, was simultaneously returned to its normal position by virtue of a scissor like connection between the two levers. When the spaceband lever was thus returned, the spaceband pawlpulled the spacebands into their storage box. The matrices, upon being brought into alignment with the distributor box by the upward movement of the second elevator, were immediately transferred into the box by the distributor shifter and then fed, one by one, to the distributor for return to their proper magazine channels. Despite the fact that the transfer mechanism has been employed for many years, it has not been entirely satisfactory when applied to the newer high speed machines. Generally speaking, the speed at which the transfer mechanism operates is directly proportional to the speed ,of operation of the machine inasmuch as the cam which controls actuation of the transfer and spaceband levers is mounted on the same cam shaft which controls the speed of the machine cycle. curs during the last stages of the machine cycle and hence is controlled by the steep rises of the cam surface which cause rapid actuation of the levers. The rapid movement of the levers is all the more undesirable due to the two stroke movements of. the transfer and the spaceband levers.

The transfer operation oc- The two stroke movement causes the two levers to approach each other in scissor-like fashion so that the transfer lever pushes the line of matrices and spacebands into the intermediate channel where the matrices engage 5 the second elevator bar. The levers then move away from each other to make room and provide time for the second elevator to lift the matrices upwardly out of the intermediate channel, leaving the spacebands supported in the channel by the ears of their short wedges. The

levers thereupon move towards each other so that the transfer lever actuated slide pushes the spacebands into position to be engaged by the spaceband pawl. Then as the levers move away from each other toward their initial normal position, the pawl pulls the spacebands back into the spaceband box. Until the time that the spaceband pawl engages the spacebands, it is supported in a raised position by a guide rail. It will be appreciated that such sliding engagement of machine parts as well as the rapid change of direction of travel of the transfer and the spaceband levers will, especially during high speed machine operation, lead to noisy operation and undue wear on the parts.

In carrying out the present invention, the spaceband lever and pawl has been eliminated and an improved single lever transfer mechanism has been provided which transfers the line of matrices and spacebands into the intermediate channel and, after the matrices have been removed by the second elevator, transfers the spacebands to the spaceband box, all without the various movements heretofore given to the transfer and the spaceband levers.

Features and advantages of this invention may be gained from the foregoing and the description of a preferred embodiment of the improved single lever transfer mechanism which follows.

In the drawings: 1

FIG. 1 is a partial front elevational View of a typographical composing machine equipped with the present invention;

4 FIG. 2 is an enlarged fragmentary elevation view showing the position of the transfer mechanism as the matrices are transferred to the second elevator;

FIG. 3 is an enlarged fragmentary elevation view showing the position of the transfer mechanism as the spacebands are transferred to the spaceband box;

FIG. 4 is a sectional view taken along line 4-4 of FIG. 1; and

FIG. 5 is a developed view of the transfer cam.

For purposes of the present description this invention is shown operatively mounted on a straight line delivery machine such'as that described in copencling application for Letters Patent Serial No. 847,619 filed October 20, 1959, now Patent No., 2,997,159. However, it is not intended that its application be limited to such a machine and as will be seen hereinafter it is equally applicable to typographical machines in which a line of matrices and spacebands is first assembled in an assembly elevator and then raised to a delivery position.

Referring to FIG. 1, character bearing matrices 10 and spacebands 11 are released from the magazine 12 and the spaceband box 13 respectively in response to the operation of a keyboard. The matrices 10 fall onto an endless delivery belt 14, and are composed in line with the spacebands in an assembler 15 by a stacking device in the form of a constantly rotating star wheel 16. This being a straight line delivery machine, the assembler 15 is not movable vertically from a lower assembling position to an upper line delivery position but rather is fixed in line delivery position. Hence a line composed in the assembler 15 remains at the level at which it is composed during its delivery to the first elevator 17. Once the com posed line of matrices 10 spacebands 11 has been transferred to elevator 17, the elevator descends into alignment with the mold disk 18 whereupon the slug is cast. Upon completion of the casting operation elevator 17 ascends to align itself with the intermediate transfer channel; however, prior thereto transfer member 19 and lever 47 shown in their normal inactive position in FIG. 1 are moved horizontally to their farthest leftward position shown in dot and dash lines in FIG. 2, where they await the ascent of elevator 17 and the descent of the second elevator 20 (FIG. 2). When the second elevator descends into the transfer channel, member 19 is translated to slide the composed line of matrices rightwardly onto the cooperating teeth of the second elevator bar 21. The second elevator then lifts the matrices up to the distributing mechanism and member 19 resumes its horizontal movement thereby sliding the spacebands toward the right, out of the transfer channel and into the spaceband box 13. The transfer member 19 and its associated mechanisms are now in their starting position which is the position shown in FIG. 1 to await the following line of matrices.

I When member 19 is in its farthest leftward position as previously mentioned, the latch 24 pivots about the pin 25 so that abutment 23 engages arm 26 of the member '27 which is mounted on the movable slide 28 by screws 29. Thus rightward movement of slide 28 and transfer member 19 carried thereon is restrained until latch 24 is released by the first elevator seating itself in the transfer position. Even then transfer movement of slide 28 is restrained by a release lever which will be described later. It will be noted that extension 30 of latch 24 engages frame 31 thereby limiting the counterclockwise movement of the latch when pivoting into operative position. Furthermore, the aforementioned extreme leftward movement of member 19 permits the releasing lever 33 to be pivoted counterclockwise on pin 34 by spring 35 (FIG. 3). The latching surface 32 of the lever then abuts projection 36 of slide 28 thereby preventing the rightward movement of slide 28 until this lever is released by the second elevator.

A-s elevator 17 ascends and aligns itself with the upper transfer channel it engages arm 37 of latch 24 (FIG. 2) thereby raising and releasing the latch so that the transfer slide can be actuated at the proper time in the machine cycle. In this manner operation of the transfer mechanism is checked until elevator 17 is properly aligned, thereby eliminating possible machine jamming and damage to associated parts. Now when the second elevator '42 descends into alignment in the transfer channel, the stud 43 abuts surface 44 of lever 33 pivoting it counterclockwise thereby disengaging surface 32 and projection 36 and freeing slide 28 for subsequent rightward movement and transfer. As the slide travels towards the intermediate channel, the catch 40 secured thereto engages an upwardly projecting member of the first elevator line stop and draws it to line receiving position in the elevator.

The transfer mechanism itself includes the transfer lever 47 pivotally mounted at its lower end on the shaft 48 and carrying the link 49 on its upper end (FIGS. 1 and 2). A short arm 50 also mounted on shaft 48 carries the roller 51 which is continuously biased into contact with the transfer cam 46 (which is shown in developed form in FIG. by spring 52 which is mounted between the machine frame and the arm 57 thereby pivoting shaft 48 in a clockwise direction. The transfer cam itself is mounted on the main cam shaft common to all other operating cams. As the transfer cam rotates the pivotal motion imparted to lever 47 through roller 51 is transposed into horizontal sliding motion through link 49 which connects lever 47 to the slide 28.

The link 49 is mounted on the rearward end of a stud 53 which extends through the pinion slide 54 at a point intermediate its ends and carries a pinion 55 on its forward end (FIG. 4). A roller 56 also is mounted on stud 53 for a purpose to be hereinafter described. Pinion 55 is positioned to mesh with the gear rack 58 which is stationarily mounted on machine frame 31 by screws 59 and to simultaneously mesh with the gear rack 61 which is mounted on slide 28 by screws 62. Slide 28 moves horizontally in grooves 66 with pinion 55 mounted thereinbetween as shown (FIG. 4). The transfer member 19 is pendently supported from the upstanding arm 60 of slide 28 by an integral strip 69 which is secured to arm 60* by screws 63. Transfer member 19 itself is shaped with a V-notch at its upper end to clear the intermediate bar 64 and the second elevator bar 21.

At the beginning of the transfer cycle lever '47 assumes its normal position shown in FIG. 1 and in dot and dash lines in FIG. 3. As elevator 17 starts to ascend lever 47 pivots counterclockwise thereby moving slide 28 and member 19 to their farthest leftward position (FIG. 2 dot and dash lines). This is accomplished through the intermediacy of link 49 and pinion 55 which rides across rack 58 at a speed corresponding to the speed of lever 47 but which propels rack 61, slide '28, and transfer member 19 leftward at an increased speed because of the interaction of the pinion and rack mechanisms. With the mechanism at its extreme leftward position pinion 55 is located at the right end of rack 61 and the left end of rack 58. Elevator 17 next aligns itself with the intermediate transfer channel and releases latch 24 as hereinbefore described and simultaneously therewith second elevator 20 descends and releases lever 33. Lever 47 now pivots clockwise under the power of spring 52 so that member 19 engages the composed line of matrices 10 and spacebands l1 and pushes them into the intermediate channel through operation of the same pinion and rack mechanism, which once again imparts increased speed to member 19 as opposed to the relatively slow motion of lever 47. The contour of cam 46 is such that element 19 stops momentarily in the intermediate channel to give elevator 42 time to raise the matrices 10 out of the channel, thus leaving only the spacebands suspended therein. At this time pinion 55 is located approximately in the center of both racks 58 and 61. Subsequently lever 47 continues its clockwise pivotal motion and pusher element 19 engages the spacebands to push them into the spaceband box 13. The surface of cam 48 is such that at this time a gradually increasing speed, rather than a constant speed, is imparted to member 19 to transfer the spacebands smoothly into the spaceband box. At the end of the stroke, as determined by the engagement of lever abutment 67 and stop 68, pinion 55 is positioned at the left end of rack 61 and the right end of rack 58. Here again quick movement is imparted to member 19 through the aforementioned interaction of this transfer mechanism. Finally, lever 47 pivots counterclockwise a small distance to withdraw transfer member 19 to its starting position out of the spaceband box.

A brief summary of the motions of the transfer slide will be given with reference to the developed view of the transfer cam shown in FIG. 5. As previously noted the transfer cam is mounted on the main cam shaft of the machine and consequently makes one uninterrupted revolution for each machine cycle which begins with the delivery of the line of matrices and spacebands to the first elevator. When the cycle begins, point 81, the transfer slide is in its normal at rest position. At point 82 the slide begins its travel to the farthest leftward position indicated by point 83 to await the arrival of the line of matrices and spacebands carried by the first elevator. From point 83 to point 84, the slide is at rest awaiting the arrival of the line and the descent and alignment of the second elevator bar in the intermediate channel of the machine. When these events have occurred the transfer slide moves the line out of the first elevator and into the intermediate channel, points 84 to 85. From point 85 to point 86 the transfer slide is at rest while the matrices ate removed from the line by the second elevator. After this happens, the slide is additionally transferred to the right, point 86 to point 87, during which time the spacebands are returned to the spaceband box. Thereafter, the slide is returned to its normal at rest position as indicated on the drawing by the rise from point 88 to point 81.

The usual recast mechanism has been relocated as shown in FIGS. 1 and 2. The latch 71 is manually pivoted about pin 72 to engage lug 73 on slide 28 thereby preventing movement of the slide and transfer member 19. This mechanism permits elevator 17 to retain the composed line already cast and return it to the mold disk 18 for a second casting. Another modification included herein consists of the brush 76 (FIGS. 3 and 4) mounted in the transfer channel wherein it engages the lower extensions of the spacebands as they slide across the spaceband rail 75. In this manner the spacebands are prevented from twisting and swining in the transfer channel. Rail 75 has a slight rise on its rightward end (FIG. 3) which further restricts swinging of the spacebands when they leave brush 76 and enter the spaceband box 13. This over-all result can also be obtained by providing a small upward bend in the center of the spaceband rail so that the center is higher than the ends.

The aforementioned roller 56 mounted on stud 53 functions to actuate safety switch 74 which operates in parallel with a second switch mounted to be operated by transfer cam 46. The last mentioned switch is normally closed but is cam operated to open momentarily when roller 56 closes switch 74, which is normally open, when the com posed line has just been moved into the transfer channel. In this manner one or the other of the two switches is always closed thereby providing a continuous circuit for controlling machine operation. Should a jamming occur, for example a bent matrix preventing free movement of the transfer member toward the intermediate channel, roller 56 would not close switch 74 simultaneous .ly with the opening of the cam operated switch. Consequently the operating circuit would be broken, the machine would stop and serious damage to the machine would be avoided.

The present invention has been described in operation on a straight line machine merely in keeping with the modern trend of improved machinery but it is not intended to limit its use thereto. It can readily be seen that the method of presentation of a composed line of matrices and spacebands to the first elevator can have no effect on the operation of the transfer mechanism herein outlined. Consequently this invention can be applied with like results toa machine having a movable assembler elevator.

It is not intended to set forth all the variations that may be made, but it is contemplated that certain features of the invention disclosed may be carried out in ways other than those specifically described and that many apparent- 1y widely different embodiments of the invention can be made without departing from the spirit and scope thereof. It is therefore intended that all matter contained in the above description or shown in the accompanying drawings shall be interpreted as illustrative and not in a limiting sense.

What is claimed is:

1. In a typographical linecasting machine having means for composing a line of matrices and spacebands, means for delivering said composed line to the first elevator, a first elevator, an intermediate transfer channel within which the matrices of said composed line are transferred from said first elevator to the second elevator and through which the spacebands of said composed line pass in route toward the spaceband box, a second elevator, and a spaceband box, single lever transfer means for transferring said composed line from said first elevator to said second elevator within the transfer channel and for further transferring the spacebands to said spaceband box.

2. In a typographical linecasting machine comprising a first elevator, a second elevator, an intermediate transfer channel, a spaceband box, and a transfer mechanism having a transfer finger, means for initially moving said transfer finger from its normal inoperative position to an extreme leftward position thereby allowing the first elevator to align a composed line of matrices and spacebands with the intermediate transfer channel, between said finger and said second elevator, said means thereafter being operable to move said transfer finger rightwardly to slide the composed line onto the second elevator within the intermediate transfer channel whereon the matrices are raised thereby leaving the spacebands suspended in the transfer channel, said means being further operable to move said transfer finger to an extreme rightward position thereby pushing the spacebands into the spaceband box whereupon said means returns the transfer finger to its normal inoperative position.

3. A typographical linecasting machine comprising a means for composing a line of matrices and spacebands, a casting mechanism, a first elevator for presenting the composed line of matrices and spacebands to said casting mechanism and thereafter transporting said line into alignment with an intermediate transfer channel, an .in termediate transfer channel wherein the matrices are separated from the spacebands and transferred to a second elevator, a second elevator, and a spaceband rail extending through the transfer channel and into the spaceband box to facilitate transfer of the spacebands, characterized in that said rail is provided with a raised surface on the end extending into the spaceband box whereby twisting of the spacebands being moved into the spaceband box is substantially reduced.

4. In a typographical linecasting machine having means for composing a line of matrices and spacebands, separate means for delivering the composed line to the first elevator, a first elevator, an intermediate transfer channel, a second elevator and a spaceband box, means for preventing swinging of the spacebands as they pass through the intermediate transfer channel, said means comprising a brush mounted within the intermediate transfer channel to engage the lower extensions of the suspended spacebands.

5. In a typographical linecasting machine wherein a line of matrices and spacebands are transferred to an intermediate channel from a first elevator, the matrices removed from the line by a second elevator mechanism, and the spacebands transferred to a spaceband storage box, transfer mechanism comprising a transfer member that engages a line of matrices and spacebands in the first elevator and pushes the line into the intermediate channel where the matrices are removed by the second elevator mechanism, said transfer member further engages the spacebands left in the intermediate channel and pushes the spacebands into the spaceband box, and means for actuating said transfer member whereby a single transfer member is effective to transfer a line of matrices and spacebands for distribution with the matrices transferred to a second elevator mechanism and the spacebands returned to the spaceband box.

6. In a typographical linecasting machine, transfer mechanism according to claim 5 wherein said actuating means includes a single cam-controlled lever that is pivoted from a position corresponding to the engagement of said transfer member with a composed line in the first elevator to a position corresponding to the engagement of said transfer member with the spacebands and their transfer into the spaceband box, and means connecting said lever to said transfer member.

7. In a typographical linecasting machine, a transfer mechanism according to claim 6 wherein said last named means comprises a rack secured to the transfer member, a pinion engaging'said rack, and a link connecting the lever to the shaft on which the pinion is mounted.

8. In a typographical linecasting machine, a transfer mechanism according to claim 7 including a rack secured to a stationary part of the machine, the pinion engaging said stationary rack as well as the transfer member rack whereby the transfer member is translated at a speed twice that at which the pinion is translated.

9. In a typographical linecasting machine, transfer mechanism according to claim 8 including a first slide member guided for sliding movement on the machine frame on which said pinion is rotatably mounted and to which said link is connected, and a second slide member guided for sliding movement on the machine frame to which said second rack and said transfer member are fastened.

10. In a typographical linecasting machine, transfer mechanism according to claim 6 including a cam that makes one revolution for each machine cycle and which is shaped such that the transfer member is adjacent the spaceband box at the beginning of a machine cycle, moves to a line engaging position to await the alignment of the first elevator with the intermediate channel, moves to transfer the line to a position where the second elevator mechanism removes the matrices from the line, moves into the spaceband box to return the spacebands thereto, and moves to its initial position adjacent said box.

11. In a typographical linecasting machine, transfer mechanism according to claim 10 including a first switch having normally separated contacts, said first switch being actuated by said transfer means so that its contacts are momentarily engaged when a line of matrices and spacebands are transferred from the first elevator to the intermediate channel, a second switch having normally engaged contacts, said second switch being actuated by said cam so that its contacts are separated at the time the contacts of said first switch should be engaged, a circuit connecting the contacts of said switches in parallel so that in the event the line is not transferred to engage the contacts of the first switch the circuit is interrupted to halt machine operation.

12. In a typographical linecasting machine comprising a first elevator, at second elevator, an intermediate transfer channel, a spaceband box, and a transfer mechanism having a transfer finger, means for initially moving said transfer finger from its normal inoperative position to an extreme leftward position thereby allowing the first elevator to align a composed line of matrices and spacebands with the intermediate transfer channel, said means thereafter being operable to move said transfer finger rightwardly to slide the composed line onto the second elevator within the intermediate transfer channel whereby the matrices can be removed from the line leaving only the spacebands suspended in the transfer channel, said means being further operable to move said transfer finger to an extreme rightward position thereby pushing the spacebands into the spaceband box, and means for effecting Rossetto et al Dec. 22, 1953 Hilpman Sept. 16, 1958 

